PayPal is a well-known digital payment gateway, while it is increasingly aligning itself as the payment method of choice for travellers, providing its users with tempting perks, therefore I wanted to discuss the platform today as I know the subject comes up quite often.
Many people were introduced to PayPal when it was aligned with the online auction site eBay. The two have since split and PayPal has positioned itself as one of the major digital payment gateways. With new and innovative solutions for customers, it has several benefits for travellers and digital nomads, so if you’re planning your next backpacking trip, it’s worth researching the right options for you.
What Can PayPal Be Used For?
PayPal has several uses in the United Kingdom and abroad. As a global payment gateway, it can send and receive funds for both business and personal use. I have often sent money on PayPal to friends and family, as well as when paying for a service. When it comes to online shopping and services, plenty of major brands accept PayPal as one of the conventional methods nowadays when you get to the checkout.
Clothing giant ASOS, multi-purpose retailers like Argos and even supermarkets like Asda use it. It can also be used for online entertainment, while all major streaming services, including Spotify, Netflix, and Disney+, accept it. Oh, have you tried Netflix when visiting other countries? Prepare to be amazed by all the different movies you’ll find (I had this in Argentina where the Wolf of Wall Street was available when it wasn’t in the UK yet).
PayPal has also become one of the most popular payment methods in the iGaming sector. This is the industry that provides online bookmaking and casino games. When betting sites accept PayPal, they allow for a fast and secure way for players to credit their accounts. I used to do this with Diablo II when I was into the gaming world. Many will also provide bonuses in the form of free bets and matched deposits, providing additional value for customers. There are websites that will rank and review betting sites which take PayPal for you, finding the best one for your needs.
Benefits of PayPal for Backpackers & Travellers
Cash is slowly dying. I’m not saying it’s completely gone, especially in countries I’ve visited like Japan, where it’s fundamental if you want to get by in smaller villages, but if you compare the cash usage to a decade ago, it’s crazy how much it has disappeared. I always prefer a wallet with a coin section, but it’s always empty nowadays. Even worse when you have to tip a food delivery, I can’t remember the last time I had cash available.
As it is so globally accepted, PayPal is great for travellers looking for a digital option. You can load up your iGaming account, ready for a long airport wait, then book a hotel the next day. What is so helpful about it is that PayPal has built-in buyer protection, which often favours the consumer. I bought a fancy dress costume from a shady site using PayPal, but I requested the funds to be returned on PayPal and it was returned within 24 hours. Word of warning, don’t trust fancy dress websites ranking well on Google, as a lot are scams!
If a holiday is cancelled, then you will be able to claim your money back as well (well, as long as you booked it with a reputable company, always check and double check the brand you buy it from and that flights are ATOL protected). It is also relatively secure, protecting your details and financial data.
Without wanting to go on, I have found it to be quite convenient. By using PayPal, you don’t have to carry cash, which is easy to lose or could be stolen, especially if you have a cheeky drink while in a new city. With so many businesses accepting it worldwide, you will have to be in quite a far-flung corner of the world to find somewhere that does not accept it. It also gives you the option of streamlining your payment methods, so you are not carrying multiple cards, which could go missing.
I used PayPal while on my recent trip to Alderney, as I didn’t know if I would be charged by my bank when in the Channel Islands and didn’t want to take a risk, with a number of services accepting this method of payment.
Travel Subscriptions
For European users, PayPal also has a partnership with eDreams ODIGEO. This is Europe’s largest travel subscription service and travel tech company. It was formed by the merger of some of the biggest travel operations in the world. Its Prime service can provide travel subscription perks, like deals and discounts.
PayPal customers in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom now get Prime Discovery membership for free. They will benefit from its AI-driven search results, giving them personalised deals on flights, hotels, accommodation, packages and excellent customer service. It also shows PayPal’s position as the main payment method for travellers.
PayPal Card for Travellers
The brand recently introduced a physical card, I haven’t actually got one yet but it’s something that’s sat on my Trello list. It can be used at all points where Mastercard is accepted, while it is issued by Synchrony and can be used for both in-store transactions and online purchases.
The card is also offering six-month financing periods on purchases over a certain amount, though this may have changed by the time of publication. It is particularly aimed at travellers, allowing the spreading of payments for travel-related expenses, whether that’s a flight to the Faroe Islands or visiting a restaurant in Brighton.
There is now a suite of cards that they can provide for travellers. This joins the Cashback Mastercard, which can also be added to e-wallets. They even offer small loans (not that I recommend taking them), showing just how far into financial services they have come.
It is worth noting that this is designed to help people budget. Don’t take items out on finance you can not afford to pay back, and you shouldn’t use PayPal credit for gambling purposes. You should also be aware that the financing option does make you pay retroactive interest if you don’t pay it off within the designated time. This is interest that would have accumulated during that time, and it could be as high as 20% or more, depending on the card. This makes the ‘pay now’ option more of a backup option. You could use it if you have a last-minute, essential purchase that needs paying off when you get home. Such as a System of a Down ticket…They’re playing in London next summer and I’m currently deliberating whether to buy myself a ticket, as the price is through the roof.
Check the terms and conditions on all of the options I’ve mentioned, not just to protect yourself, but to get the best from their system.